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Contents » International News » USA
  • VNEA reaches 160 million games in 30th season
    Published:  08 July, 2010

    While most leisure activities have changed and lost a portion of their audiences over time, pool has both survived and thrived in the U.S. After hosting competitions for 30 seasons, the Valley 8-Ball League Association (VNEA) celebrated the association’s 160-millionth league game. The organization was established in 1980 by a handful of operators who never anticipated the wild success of the VNEA and the international popularity of the games.

  • Bob Fay becomes Official Government Rep
    Published:  08 July, 2010

    Bob Fay, longtime industry veteran and now Director of Government Relations for AMI Entertainment Network, has been appointed to serve on the U.S. Department of Commerce's Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Consumer Goods. He will represent AMI Entertainment and the U.S. amusements industry. Fay has vast government experience, first as a former FBI agent and longtime expert in international trade matters, and then serving 14 years in the late 1980s through the 1990s as Executive Director and President of the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA).

  • Disasters affecting operators
    Published:  08 July, 2010

    In Nashville, Tennessee, The Grand Ole Opry and the Opryland Hotel, the central shrine of country music and site of several AMOA conventions, sustained serious water damage following historic floods during early May. The state sustained at least $1 billion in damages, also affecting Tennessee amusement operators.

  • A video game career path in Texas
    Published:  08 July, 2010

    A few Texas school districts have introduced a new curriculum that could appeal to younger students and motivate them toward a future career. The Fort Bend Independent School District (ISD) in Sugar Land, a suburb of Houston, is focused on recruiting incoming freshman for the new program this fall, which will open to all Fort Bend ISD students.

  • Colorado considers permit for lottery-run machines in bars and restaurants
    Published:  08 July, 2010

    The Colorado Lottery could soon operate video lottery terminals in the state's bars and restaurants, if lawmakers pass Senate Concurrent Resolution 10 by a two-thirds approval vote. Colorado voters would then have to authorize the machines in a referendum in November.

  • Gulf coast operators worry about their summer tourism
    Published:  03 July, 2010

    While it is too early to quantify the disastrous economic effects of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on the Gulf Coast states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, tourism will almost certainly be affected for months to come. Summer is the height of the vacation season, and Gulf Coast amusement/arcade operators worry that their resort and beachfront location revenues will plummet if the spill is not contained and cleaned up quickly.

  • Florida lawmakers approve tribal gaming
    Published:  03 July, 2010

    By an almost two-to-one margin in April, the Florida House approved a proposed 20-year gambling compact with the Seminole tribe. The state Senate passed the compact by a three-to-one vote. It should go through official measures smoothly since Florida Governor Charlie Crist strongly supports it and the U.S. Interior Department, which regulates Native American gaming, should also give its okay.

  • A 30-year winner
    Published:  03 July, 2010

    The recent Valley National Eight-Ball Association’s (VNEA) 30th Anniversary International Pool Championships in Las Vegas was a huge success. Six thousand pool league players competed, representing 30 U.S. states, five Canadian provinces and seven other countries. The 33 divisional matches took place on approximately 300 Valley Pool Tables. The event highlights included a 30-year history wall display and multiple giveaways and other prizes.

  • Oklahoma vending, amusement tax to triple in Oklahoma
    Published:  03 July, 2010

    Oklahoma legislators passed a bill that triples the state’s sales tax decal for vending and coin-op amusement equipment from $50 to $150. The price increase took effect on July 1. Currently, vending and amusement operators buy a decal at an annual flat fee for each machine on location. This cost takes the place of paying total sales volume taxes. Operator fees have remained stable since 1988. They apply to food and beverage machines, as well as jukeboxes and games.

  • Fun Expo closes
    Published:  03 July, 2010

    After years of co-location, the three national trade associations that own Fun Expo- IAAPA, AMOA and AAMA-have decided to shut the show down. The convention had lost money last March when commingled with the Amusement Expo in Las Vegas. As a 50% owner, IAAPA controlled the show’s destiny, and constant rumors circulated that the show would be discontinued.

  • Disasters affecting operators
    Published:  23 June, 2010

    In Nashville, Tennessee, The Grand Ole Opry and the Opryland Hotel, the central shrine of country music and site of several AMOA conventions, sustained serious water damage following historic floods during early May. The state sustained at least $1 billion in damages, also affecting Tennessee amusement operators.

    One of the worst examples was in Old Hickory, just north of Nashville. The Riverside Family Fun World, a large FEC, included an arcade, batting cages, gokart track and miniature golf course. All were severely damaged from 12-ft.- high waters.

  • US armed forces study confirms benefits of videogames
    Published:  24 March, 2010

    The US Navy’s Office of Naval Research recently released a study that confirms that videogame playing increases cognitive abilities up to 20%. The story on strategypage.com claims videogame activity helps troops solve problems more quickly and enact solutions faster.

  • More trouble for proposed Illinois VLT industry
    Published:  24 March, 2010

    The Illinois amusement operators are watching the ongoing political and economic erosion of the planned Illinois video gaming market.  More than 63 towns and counties have already opted, with potentially a dozen more.

  • Operators on the web
    Published:  24 March, 2010

    The AMOA hosted its first 45-minute webinar to its Board of Directors and Political Action Committee (PAC) donors in early February. The topics affecting amusement operators included taxes, product safety, smoking regulations, copyright law enforcement and national legislative briefings.

  • New York city law allows more amusement games on location
    Published:  01 February, 2010

    On December 28, 2009, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed amended legislation that increases how many coin-operated games may be placed in the city’s public locations without an arcade license. Officials from the Amusement and Music Owners Association of New York (AMOA-NY) joined the mayor in the official signing. The threshold of game placements rises from four to nine. An arcade license is required for locating 10 or more games at a single site.

  • AMOA announces its 2010 Notre Dame programme
    Published:  01 February, 2010

    The AMOA has announced its dates for the start of its 2010 Notre Dame Management Development Program on the South Bend, Indiana campus. The next Masters II class begins with courses set for the weekend of October 23 and 24. The standard program, Class XV’s first session, will be held from October 22 to 25. More details to be available soon.

  • North Carolina news
    Published:  01 February, 2010

    According to a December 22, 2009 ruling from the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the state’s General Assembly’s 2006 ban on video poker is lawful. It ruled it legal despite offering the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians the right to operate gambling games on tribal land while denying that opportunity to other North Carolina citizens.

  • Eliminating gray poker operators from running legal VLTs
    Published:  01 February, 2010

    In what would seem obvious, the chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) wants to ban operators who have been prosecuted or fined for running “gray-area” pokers from participating in Illinois’ planned legal video lottery market. He made the announcement at a December 16, 2009 meeting of the regulatory organization.

  • JLO fees frozen
    Published:  01 February, 2010

    Good news for AMOA member operators. For the first time in several years, the Jukebox License Office (JLO) has announced that jukebox license fees will remain unchanged. Each fall, the JLO releases it fees for the coming year. JLO Manager Katie Wilkinson has reported that the 2010 rates will be the same as the 2009 fees.

  • Alabama flouts law
    Published:  01 February, 2010

    Despite the ruling from the Alabama State Supreme Court on November 13 that state officials claims bans electronic bingo games as previously operated, new resorts are running the games. The court said that games seized in a law enforcement raid operate “almost exactly like slot machines.”

  • Illinois unconcerned at vlt opt out
    Published:  01 February, 2010

    Despite the number of local jurisdictions “opting out” of Illinois’ planned video lottery market reaching 40, analysts with the Illinois state accounting officials claim they are not concerned. Their statistics show that this only reflects 10% of the state‘s population.

  • Obama looks out for small businesses
    Published:  01 February, 2010

    For almost a year, small businesses in the U.S. have complained that banks both large and small have not been lending money to them. The Small Business Administration claims more than half of the private sector employers create 60% to 80% of all new jobs. The majority of American amusement operators are small business owners, and many have suffered economic setbacks because of the unavailability of loans and ongoing credit.

  • IALEI is gone - IAAPA now main FEC Association
    Published:  14 December, 2009

    It became official at the close of business on October 30…the International Association for the Leisure and Entertainment Industry (IALEI) ceased to operate. The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). It is estimated that 559 IALEI- comprised of 476 family entertainment centers and 83 suppliers will transition to IAAPA. Current memberships will be honored through December 31, 2010.

  • Trade associations go social
    Published:  14 December, 2009

    The American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) has launched a new Facebook industry-themed “fan page”, called “Out-Of-Home Entertainment“. The social network site has 60 million U.S. members, and AAMA is positioning the page as the Internet hub for coin-op. They also want to reach the player base.

  • Associations announce one show name
    Published:  14 December, 2009

    The new joint show between the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) and the Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA) will officially be called the AAMA/AMOA Amusement Expo. Plans are underway for the March 10-12, 2010 trade event to be co-sponsored and co-owned by the two industry trade associations. The new event is to be co-mingled with Fun Expo.

  • If you can make it there you can make it anywhere
    Published:  14 December, 2009

    The Amusement and Music Owners Association of New York (AMOA-NY) believes the law is vital to protecting operator-location agreements. The trade group aims to protect its latest contract samples, which stipulates service terms between operators and locations, and is available only for members.

  • Racial politics and crime cited as reasons against Illinois video poker
    Published:  14 December, 2009

    Illinois amusement operators are growing afraid of scaled down participation in legalized video poker.  Cook County, home of Chicago and America’s second largest county with 128 municipalities and five million-plus people, voted twice this fall to reject legalized, operator-run video poker. To date, more than two dozen municipalities across Illinois have voted to opt out.

  • Two giants merge
    Published:  10 November, 2009

    After two decades of rumours and discussion, officials from both the Amusement and Music Operators Association (AMOA) and the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) announced a show merger. On September 24, the groups disclosed that the AAMA's Amusement Showcase International (ASI) trade show will be combined into a single show with the AMOA's International Expo. The show will collocate with Fun Expo on March 10-12, 2010 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

  • Ohioans will vote on racetrack VLTs
    Published:  10 November, 2009

    In a six-to-one decision, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in late September that prior to the Ohio Lottery Commission installing 17,500 video lottery terminals (VLTs) in the state's seven racetracks, voters must approve the action in a statewide referendum. The ruling will delay Democratic Governor Ted Strickland's July 10 executive order to install the VLTs next year.

  • Operators facing gains or losses from increased gaming activity
    Published:  10 November, 2009

    Unlike the decades when Nevada and then Atlantic City enjoyed a casino monopoly in the U.S., legalized gaming in some form has proliferated throughout the country. Today, 40 states have some form of wagering, and casinos have sprung up on land, rivers, on Indian reservation lands and in racetracks. Also, video lottery terminals in taverns are in several states, some with operator participation and others run strictly by the state government.

  • Many Illinois counties may bypass VLTs
    Published:  05 October, 2009

    One Illinois county's officials have already voted unanimously to ban newly legalized video lottery terminals from unincorporated areas. The ban will exempt cities in DuPage County near Chicago, but several other counties may follow their lead.     

  • Video content laws defeated 43 times last year
    Published:  05 October, 2009

    The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) reported that since late last year it has enjoyed legislative or courtroom victories over 43 bills or laws-16 in New York State alone- that would have regulated videogame content. ESA announced this success story in its annual report. One of ESA's highest profile triumphs included the appeals court ruling against a California state law that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger now wants appealed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

     

  • IALEI will merge with IAAPA
    Published:  05 October, 2009

    Following several contentious months and long debate, an August 26 vote approved the merger between the International Association for the Leisure and Entertainment Industry (IALEI) and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). The merger plan passed by an overwhelming majority- 83%- in favor of the proposal.

  • Ohio court temporarily restores $10 limit for skill games prizes
    Published:  05 October, 2009

    A new court ruling has delayed an earlier court's ruling in Ohio. For a brief period, operators were permitted to award noncash prizes valued above $10 for skill games. Following the new decision, operators are once again restricted to giving prizes worth $10 or less.

  • IGS highest profit earner
    Published:  05 October, 2009

    Institutional investors have predicted that IGS' second quarter revenue will hit a new quarter high, making it the highest profit earner in the Asian gaming sector. Chinesegamer and UserJoy were predicted to be the second and third most profitable respectively.

  • Gambling referendum
    Published:  05 October, 2009

    Penghu County's signature gathering process succeeded after five months.  Lan Chun-yi who submitted the referendum proposal, sent 3,853 copies of joint signature letters to the Penghu County Election Committee on July 31.The County Election Committee announced earlier that the referendum would be held on September 26.

  • No potential Nevada taxes
    Published:  28 September, 2009

    Located in Nevada's capital city, veteran Carson City operator Doug Minter learned of a proposed tax increase on operators, and alerted Nevada amusement association executives in time to squash it. Behind closed doors, the Nevada Senate had designed legislation to levy a $200 tax- a change from the one-time $200 standard annual business tax- for each location operated by a Nevada company. The total taxes due on $200 per location over the one-time fee could be staggering, putting some operators out of business.

  • No more smoking for the U.S. Armed Forces
    Published:  28 September, 2009

    The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is considering a phased-in five-to-10 year plan to halt all tobacco sales on military bases. This ban would outlaw smoking by anyone in uniform, including battlefield soldiers.

  • Pennsylvania governor to sign video poker bill
    Published:  28 September, 2009

    Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell plans to sign a video poker legalization bill as a fundraising measure to help erase a projected $3.25 billion shortfall. The original plan was to fund college scholarships, but economic emergencies burdening the state may change the scope. Despite being legally required to pass a budget by June 30, as of press time, Pennsylvania did not have an approved budget.

  • AMOA show badges not going out by mail
    Published:  28 September, 2009

    This year, the AMOA will eliminate the admission badges sent by mail for its September 24-26 AMOA Expo in Las Vegas. All advance registrants will receive an email registration confirmation, which will contain a bar code to be scanned at an on-site express registration counter. Attendees must bring a copy of the confirmation to secure a badge for show entry. AMOA officials believe the new system will save money on paper and postage, plus provide a more accurate process for registrant verification.

  • Ohio licences VLTs
    Published:  28 September, 2009

    Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has granted 10-year licenses to legalize up to 17,500 slot machines, or video lottery terminals (VLTs), to be installed in Ohio's seven racetracks. The state lottery will regulate the machines. Ohio has confronted severe economic downturns. The last minute deal between the governor and the state legislature included legal definitions and regulations for the permitted slots within the state's budget bill. The slots are projected to raise $933 million in tax revenues over Ohio's next two-year budget cycle. Strickland's executive order may face a court challenge.

  • Law enforcement's strange idea of legal
    Published:  28 September, 2009

    Texas law enforcement agencies throughout the state are reselling seized eight-liner machines. Confiscated from allegedly illegal game rooms, these machines are then sold back to the original operators in those same game rooms or other venues. Houston's local Channel 11 news reports that some of the confiscated machines are auctioned on eBay for $250 and up.

  • Illinois video poker could happen
    Published:  15 July, 2009

    In veto-proof majorities in both the Illinois House and Senate, each licensed bar and truck stop statewide will be permitted to operate up to five video gaming devices. As part of an omnibus bill favored by Governor Pat Quinn, the Video Gaming Act is among many fundraising provisions. The 30% tax on legal poker earnings could generate $375 million in annual revenues for the state, with much allocated toward educational projects.

  • Nationwide tobacco changes
    Published:  15 July, 2009

    President Barack Obama has endorsed The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which will give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unprecedented authority to regulate tobacco products. The measure overwhelmingly passed both the Senate and the House in early June.

  • Keeping gambling from the neighbourhoods
    Published:  15 July, 2009

    The Louisiana State Senate has approved SB 273, requiring video poker machines inside truck stops to be at least half a mile from residential properties. If enacted into law, it would apply to truck stops seeking new gaming license applications after January 1, 2010.

  • IAAPA and IALEI merger update
    Published:  15 July, 2009

    As of press time, negotiators from the International Association for the Leisure and Entertainment Industry (IALEI) and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) were completing the conditions of the proposed merger between the two groups.

  • Legalizing online gaming
    Published:  15 July, 2009

    U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) has introduced the Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection & Enforcement Act. It would allow online gambling in the U.S. for the first time in three years. American businesses could legally compete in this market for the first time.

  • Rudowicz leaves AAMA
    Published:  15 July, 2009

    After an eventful decade, veteran American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) leader Mike Rudowicz has stepped down as president. With 40 years of industry experience, he brought knowledge of both distribution and manufacturing to his job.

  • GTI Asia China Expo 2009 kicks off
    Published:  15 July, 2009

    The registration of GTI Asia China Expo 2009 has started; the first companies to complete the registration were members of Panyu Game Association, Panyu government, Jucheng Technology, Shuang Ying, Belrare, Borden, Yi Eel Shang Enterprise, Nippo Tusho, Zhong Yi, 7 Color, Fuchen and BingoKing International; more companies will be finishing the registration soon.

  • First braille U.S. coin gives hope to America's blind
    Published:  16 June, 2009

    The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States, claims that up to 70,000 Americans become legally blind each year.

  • Vending industry fights secret union organizing
    Published:  16 June, 2009

    The National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) is urging operators to lobby their Congressional representative against the so-called "employee free choice" or "card check" legislation. It eliminates the secret ballot in union elections and could negatively impact small businesses.

  • Pennsylvania poker
    Published:  16 June, 2009

    If Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell's proposed video poker plan- House Bill 1317- which excludes operators, is legalized, up to half of the state's 400 amusement companies would likely close. John Milliron, legislative counsel of the Pennsylvania Amusement and Music Machine Association (PAMMA) testified before the Pennsylvania House Gaming Oversight Committee on May 7. Milliron warned this formula would cut into entertainment dollars used for tavern coin-operated amusements. The Pennsylvania Tavern Association's executive director also testified, claiming state and local taxes and licensing fees taverns would negate their 25% share.

  • Fewer future customers?
    Published:  16 June, 2009

    Bad news for operators with equipment in restaurants and food service operations. NPD Group, a research firm, has reported that young adults- ages 18 to 24- have restricted their restaurant visits. This group represents the most lucrative restaurant demographic. As parents seek ways to save money, more are leaving their children home. Children's parties also declined by 3%.

  • North Carolina looking at video poker
    Published:  16 June, 2009

    Accusing state legislators of hypocrisy for running a state lottery while banning privately-owned video poker, a state representative  plans to introduce a bill are underway to legalize a video poker program that could raise $500 million annually. North Carolina had legal amusement-only video poker until 2007, the year after the lottery was launched.

  • Will IALEI and IAAPA merge?
    Published:  19 May, 2009

    In May, a membership board vote will decide if the International Association for the Leisure and Entertainment Industry (IALEI) will be absorbed into the Family Entertainment Center (FEC) committee of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). IAAPA's board must also approve a merger.

  • Obama and small businesses
    Published:  19 May, 2009

    President Barack Obama unveiled a $730 million small-business stimulus package on March 16. Banks receiving federal bailout money must increase lending to small businesses to help make payroll, purchase equipment and maintain (or expand) employment levels.

  • Lower ASI number
    Published:  19 May, 2009

    Fewer attendees were at the March Amusement Showcase International (ASI) and co-located Fun Expo trade shows. The economy and stricter company travel policies were the explanations.

  • National dart news
    Published:  19 May, 2009

    The National Dart Association's (NDA) new MySpace page went live in March. NDA officials hope its presence showcases the association via videos, slideshows and blogs. The MySpace page lets visitors sign up for NDA's player e-newsletter and find quick links to the association's services. MySpace members can add NDA as a friend at myspace.com/ndadarts.

  • Pinball museums website
    Published:  21 April, 2009

    The National Pinball Museum launched a new website, www.nationalpinballmuseum.org. The site offers unique pinball premiums for gift ideas, plus information about a little-known pinball museum in Paris. Viewers may sign up for the National Pinball Museum's quarterly newsletter Tilt.

  • Keeping VLT split at 50-50 in South Dakota
    Published:  21 April, 2009

    South Dakota lawmakers have recommended that the state keep its split with the video poker industry on a 50-50 basis. Currently, South Dakota receives about $112 million annually from video poker.

  • Judge overturns video poker ban in North Carolina
    Published:  21 April, 2009

    Video poker operators got both good and bad news on February 19. A Superior Court judge ruled on that North Carolina's 2006 ban on video poker machines was illegal. However, he also required that additional legal proceedings on the issue take place before any operators could revive the poker market.

  • Move to Mexico
    Published:  21 April, 2009

    By late 2009, videogame manufacturer Merit Entertainment and jukebox make Rowe International will assimilate their production facilities and staffing. They will shift production of Rowe jukeboxes, money changing machines and Merit terminals to Reynosa, Mexico, along the Texas-Mexico border. The move will result in the loss of 100 jobs.

  • Touchtunes using wireless broadband
    Published:  21 April, 2009

    After four months of testing, TouchTunes jukeboxes across the U.S. will be able to use wireless broadband technology. The jukebox company will offer customers a two-year contract deal for $10.45 per week. Their focus was to offer a flexible and economical method for connecting the TouchTunes network to broadband wireless. One advantage is that while enjoying the benefits of hardwired connections, wireless services eliminate the time-consuming, complex processes. The speed also increases operator revenues by 25% over dialup boxes.

  • Poker and pressure for scholarships
    Published:  21 April, 2009

    Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, who effectively legalized casino slot parlors in 14 venues state wide, is looking to expand gaming to help the commonwealth. He has proposed legalizing video poker, awarding the proceeds to funding educational scholarships. His original target date of this fall has created a massive response from parents seeking help with next semester's tuition costs.

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